St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-14
RAILROAD EPISTLES
Sent Out by the Legislative Apostles of
Reform Now in Session at
Bismarck,
Warning the Various Common Carriers of
the Big Territory Of the Wrath
to Come.
A Land Claim at Fergus Falls De.
cided in Favor of the
Settler.
Duluth and Other Northwestern
Cities in Danger of Losing Their
Custom Houses.
Special to the Globe.

Special to the Globe.
BISMARCK, Oak, Jan. IS. The blizzard
spent its fury last night and the legislators
struggled through sunshine and snow
drifts this noon to the capitol where both
houses convened at 2 o'clock, and we've
opened by prayer by their respective chap
lalns. In the council an attempt was made
! to amend the rules by fixing the hour each
day at 10 a. M. instead Of 2 D. H., but the
amendment was voted down. Dr. Collins,
OF Grand Forks, introduced bill to create
the Office of public examiner, defining the
duties and dividing the territory into two
examiner districts.
TWO IMPORTANT BILLS
were introduced by Hughes. One was to
regulate the inspection. weighing and
handling of grain, and defining the duties
of the railroad and warehouse commission
in relation thereto. The other was an act
to provide for the taxation of persons. CO.
| partnerships. associations and car loading
companies, stopping car companies. cor
porations and fast freight lines from run
ming cars over any OF the railroads in this
territory, and not being exclusively the
property of any railroad company paying
taxes on their gross receipts. He also in
! troduced an important railroad bill, of
which the following will give an idea:
Section L creates a railroad and warehouse
commission comprising three members to be
appointed by the governor. Sections 3 and 3
relate to qualifications and the oath of eff ee
Section requires the commission to keep
record of al proceedings and findings of the
| commission and the proceedings certified are
to be judicially recognized by all courts of the
territory Section says that in all proceeu-
ings against common carriers those COM
planned of are to have full
OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD,
and the determination of the commission is
to be certified to the common carrier with
notice to make reparation or dcsist from
violation, and in case of neglect or refusal to
make reparation the case is to be certified to
the attorney general. whose duty it is made
to prosecute. Section provides for pro-
cedure Of the attorney general when the case
has been certified to him from
the prosecution. Section says the pro-
ceedings in investigations are to be in
public or as the commission may determine
Is best calculated to serve public interests
and the ends Of justice. Section IA defines
the scope Of the commissions examinations
and powers to enter Offices or cars and TO
pass over roads for such purposes. Section
Is declares that all books, records, papers,
agreements, contracts and proceedings of all
common carriers are subject to examination
by the commission. Section 16 provides pen
altieS to be incurred by any corpo-
ration, their agent or employes for
refusal to allow examination of such
books. papers, etc. Section II defines the
powers of the commission to issue subpnnas
and punish contumacy or refusal to testify
or pt O luce books, papers, records, etc. By
section Is common carriers are prohibited
from granting special rebates, drawbacks
etc., for services rendered. Section l9
declares that it is unlawful for any common
carrier to give any undue or
UNREASONABLE PREFERENCE
or advantage to any particular person, firm,
corporation or locality, bpt is Jointly bound
to furnish reasonable facilities for inter-
change of traffic. Section 20 says that all
common carriers are to furnish schedules of
their traffic rates, fare and changes within
sixty days, and by section 81 the commission
is vested with power to make any reasonable
reduction of fares, rates and charges, and
full power to enforce the same.
By section % the commission is
vested with authority to enforce
repairs, additions to bridges, culverts, cross
ings OF streets and public highways, additions
to rolling stock and additions or changes to
stations Sec ton 23 makes it unlawful to
enter into combinations to prevent continu-
Gus carriage and to form pools. Section ~
makes it the duty of the attorney general.
county or district attorney to give counsel TO
the commission in all cases and prosecute all
cases certified by the commission for that
purpose. Section 2S empowers the commis-
violations of the law by common carriers in
| the name of the territory, and provides for
the collection of penalties.
Councilman Mead introduced a joint res
| olution and memorial to congress that was
| adopted, praying the passage of
THE DAWES BILL
which provides for opening a portion of
| the Sioux reservation in Dakota. The
reasons set forth in the prayer aver that the
reservation separates the eastern portion of
the territory which has a large population,
but is without coal and wood, from the
Black Hills country: that the opening of
portion OF the reservation will give shorter
railroad routes between the eastern and
western counties; and that the reservation
is composed almost entirely of prairie land
covered with grass which natures early
in the crop season and is allowed
to burn off early every year, tending much
towards scarcity Of rainfall and increase of
north winds. which have so often proved
disastrous to agricultural interests in the
Eastern portion of the territory and partic-
ularly to that point lying near the reServa-
ton. Adjourned till 2 O'Clock tomorrow
But little business of importance will be
done before the various committees are ap-
pointed, which will be about Monday next.
There were many vacant seats.
IN THE LOWER HOUSE,
but there was quorum and several i'm
portant bills were introduced. Tom Elliott.
of Elliott county, introduced bill which
was an act to amend an act to provide for
the establishment of board of railroad
commissioners. The principal clause in
the bill provides that no company shall be
allowed to charge or receive higher rates
per ton per mile for one carload of freight
than for greater number of carloads per
car. After an hours session The house ad-
journed for lack of business till tomorrow
at p. m. L. K. Church left tonight i'll
special car for Huron. He intends to return
next Monday.
A rAND CEauys